The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday published details of an exhaustive Apple invention covering the resale and loan of owned digital content like e-books, music and movies, possibly portending an upcoming addition to iTunes.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday issued Apple a patent for system in which a device can be controlled through the measurement and translation of deflection or stress a user applies to a device housing.

Apple and Samsung's ongoing international patent struggle took a novel turn in Australian Federal Court on Wednesday, with Samsung's counsel questioning whether Apple's claims to "beauty" and "elegance" in its iOS interface is enough to justify an enforceable patent.

A system outlined in an Apple patent on Tuesday takes data from a number of sensors deployed throughout a handheld device and feeds the information into a "situational awareness module," which then triggers a number of functions, including vibration settings, music playback and sleep mode.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday granted Apple three design patents for iOS assets, including the audio controls seen as part of the iPhone and iPod touch's multitasking bars, the Game Center's "Me" page and the Camera app's camera selection button.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday issued Apple a patent for the two-way communication of location data between a portable media device or handset, and an "accessory device" that can remotely display the information on its screen.

Apple and Samsung returned to Australian court on Monday to continue their years long patent battle, though a consolidation of patent claims has necessitated two federal court judges to hear the case, something that has reportedly never been done in the country.

The Mannheim Regional Court on Friday ordered a stay on a Samsung lawsuit against Apple, citing a parallel nullity case that could invalidate the Korean company's patent being asserted against the iPhone's VoiceOver functionality.

A U.S. federal judge on Thursday ordered Apple and Samsung to pare down their respective cases in a patent suit slated to start in 2014, saying that both parties should know what assertions are strongest after battling in court for over a year.

A patent application revealed on Thursday shows that Apple may be working on improving the accuracy of the touchscreen keyboards featured in its iDevices by allowing them to automatically adjust aspects such as key sizes to user typing behavior on the fly.

A patent application discovered by AppleInsider on Thursday reveals Apple is indeed investigating a wearable accessory device that not only boasts a full-length flexible touchscreen display, but conforms to a user's body through the use of a "slap bracelet" mechanism.

The U.S. International Trade Commission on Tuesday announced that it will review an administrative law judge's decision that cleared Apple of infringing on certain Motorola patents, which in turn allowed the company to continue iPhone sales in the country.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday granted Apple a patent for a haptic feedback system suitable for use in multitouch devices, where the unit's various points of input can be more accurately represented by a number of synchronized actuators.